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Vive la France: Happy Bastille Day!

Francophiles, we know you’ve had your Bastille Day plans set for months. The day has finally arrived, and you’re ready to get French. Your record player is blasting the Les Mis soundtrack, the crêpes sucrées (or crêpes salées; we’re not picky) are bubbling in the pan, and your favorite Godard film is downloaded and ready to go. French days are the best days. We do our best to fill our calendars with global celebrations all year long, and we’re rounding out July’s independence festivities with France’s own national holiday, Bastille Day. Break out your blue, white, and red (again!), La Fête Nationale is here – and we’ve got three reasons why you should be celebrating.

1. History buffs, this is your day.

Dive into the rich history of Bastille Day and you’ll immediately get lost in the fascinating politics, personalities, and high stakes surrounding the 1789 Storming of the Bastille, a notorious fortress-prison in Paris. Whether you get your history fix via books or film, there are endless accounts of the events surrounding this historic day and its global impact. We’ll give you the short version for now: Le quatorze juillet marks the beginning of the French Revolution, and France’s first major step towards independence. Just weeks later, France took important steps toward freedom and unity with the abolition of feudalism and implementing new citizen rights and liberties. A year later, the people of France celebrated the event’s 1st anniversary with a huge four-day feast, fireworks, wine, and running naked through the streets. What’s not to love?

2. Eat your way through the celebrations.

Need we explain the glorious miracle that is French cuisine? Probably not, but humor us while we indulge in the hors d’œuvres,fromages, and pâtisseries of our dreams. Bastille Day is the perfect excuse to visit that enticingly fancy French place in your neighborhood, go to one of the many Bastille Day celebrations across the U.S., or throw your own three-course French dinner party. Whatever you do, treat yourself. After all, today’s all about celebrating the unique and often delicious traditions of France, and we’re extremely grateful for French delicacies. Croissants, macaroons, cassoulet, and even the famed escargot – we love all of it. Why not make this the year you finally try snails? If you do, please take a video and send it our way – we wouldn’t want to miss that.

3. Get authentic.

Language lovers, this is your time to shine – but you already knew that. Our most notorious French fanatics are up close and personal with their lessons all year long, and days like this are the big pay-off. This Bastille Day, use Mango’s ® French courses to learn about authentic culture and pick up relevant, useful conversation skills. Learn how to describe your culinary masterpieces, introduce yourself to new friends, and make plans for later (“Let’s meet at the Fireworks! I’ll bring wine.”) Really though, bring wine. That’s one of the greatest perks of celebrating Bastille Day in Paris – you can wine and dine in the parks, with fireworks from Trocadéro illuminating the Eiffel Tower. C’est si beau!

Celebrate Bastille Day, celebrate La Fête Nationale. Celebrate in two languages and you’ll have twice the fun – that’s how it always goes for us.